Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee Minutes - 02/10/2015MINUTES
LAKE WICHITA REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE
February 10, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Stephen Garner, Chair ■ Members
Clayton Lane. Vice Chair
Penny Miller, Secretary
Sam Bownds
Michael Chapman
Nancy Howell
Shannon Rutledge- Hopkins
Larry Scott
Tom Lang, Ex- Officio
Jack Murphy, Director Parks and Recreation N Staff
Davis Powell, City Engineer
Pat Hoffman, Property Administrator
Leo Mantey, Property Management
Pete Gill, Lakeside City Homeowner's Association ■ Guests
ABSENT, Daniel Fitzwater, Donna Rust, Brian Hooker
I. Call to Order and Introductions
Stephen Garner called the meeting to order and all members and staff introduced
themselves.
11. Approval of Minutes
Larry Scott moved to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2010 meeting. Clayton Lane
seconded. Motion passed.
111. Project Status
Things continue to fall into place for the Lake Wichita Revitalization Project. Some specific
events that have occurred since the last meeting include:
• Steve Garner and Tom Lang met with Channel 3 and had a good initial meeting.
• In addition, they conducted a site visit with James Teichman. He owns just under
300 acres across Hwy 79, which is potentially a site for excavation dirt.
• The City Council will vote next week on whether to approve a recommendation
from the 4B Board to allocate the other half of the monies needed to complete the
404 permit.
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• Troy Secord of Rotary North offered to be the lead on getting the AIA involved with
the project, as they were for the MPEC project.
• Tom Lang and Curt Cassidy did a site visit to look at locations for boat ramps. On
the east side, Tom suggests doubling the size of the current ramp and improve the
area with a patio area, a larger pullout and a fish cleaning station. This would be
eligible for a TPWD Motor Boat Access grant.
• Tom Lang met with Dr. Martinez from MSU. He is intrigued with the project. We
have an estimated economic impact of undertaking the project, but we need an
economic estimate of the long -term impact of the completed project.
IV. Fundraising
The focus since the last meeting has been on potential fundraising opportunities. The
fundraising subcommittee held a 2 -hour workshop. Eighteen people attended. Steve
Garner will email the suggestions the group discussed so members can review before the
next meeting and be prepared to discuss.
Tom Lang is compiling a list of opportunities from grants and matching funds. He and
Kathie Chaddick attended a grant seekers workshop at the Priddy Foundation. Tom
reported that the workshop went well and they learned a lot.
Tom Lang met with David Wolverton and Shelley Sweatt to discuss how the Priddy
Foundation wants the project to be presented to them. They want to see the entire project.
They do not care about naming rights in return for their contribution.
Kathie Forehand - Chaddick volunteered to assist with grantwriting. She and Tom Lang are
working on the groundwork of background to the project that will be used as needed in the
grant proposals.
Tom Lang passed out the 46 Board proposal that illustrated the potential fundraising
opportunities. Local level opportunities were kept in general terms as the subcommittee
investigates the specific opportunities available.
Tom Lang and Pat Hoffman discussed logging staff time to reflect as in -kind contributions
for grant requests. The committee asked Jack Murphy to make this happen.
Davis Powell indicated that TXDOT Transportation Alternative project grants are due by
May 4. Large metropolitan areas are not eligible to apply, which helps Wichita Falls
compete. The city has identified six projects for grant applications —three are trail projects,
one of which is the section of trail along Lake Wichita. That portion of the trail will probably
have to be partially on the shore and partially over the lake due to funding. A shoreline trail
would cost an estimated $1 M and a lake trail would cost approximately $10M. Steve
Garner asked if we requested $1 M and then decided to do a $5M alternative, could we still
use the $1 M to help fund that? Davis Powell stated that we would have to stay within the
scope of the project, but adding additional dollars to enhance the project would be fine. He
felt we shouldn't price ourselves out the funding to start with.
V. Other Items of Discussion
Tom Lang suggested a FAQ for the website. He asked committee members to email him
the questions they are being asked by members of the community.
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Shannon Rutledge- Hopkins asked about EPA Brownfield grants. She doesn't know if they
would apply to our dirt. Pat Hoffman is was uncertain about whether cities could receive
monies from these grants. This needs more research.
Tom Lang asked about creating a TIF zone versus trying to get a bond passed. Pat
Hoffman explained that a TIF depends upon having a tax base. Since this is city property,
the property doesn't provide tax dollars.
Steve Garner asked about the kayak trail in Lake Wichita Park. The original plan was to
use the existing inlet, along the drainage area, but the elevation is not conducive. There
was discussion of an alternate route, but we would need to know where the dirt would be
placed. Davis Powell talked to the original members of the RPS Group that assisted the
committee earlier in the project about whether this would have to be part of the 404 permit.
Their opinion was that it would have to be and should not be done separately.
The city will be having a Circle Trail Tour on May 2, 10:00 AM — 2:00 PM. There will be
several stops along the trail. The committee discussed whether we should host one of the
stops to talk about the project. There was consensus this would be a good idea. Tom
Lang, Michael Chapman and Shannon Rutledge- Hopkins will discuss with the fundraising
subcommittee.
Tom Lang asked that committee members ask their friends to like the Facebook page for
this project.
The committee discussed the timeline for the 404 permit process. Davis Powell stated that
it would take approximately 2 -- 3 months to complete the contracting process for a
company to prepare the permit. It would likely require 3 -- 6 months to prepare the permit
application and another 90 days for permit approval.
VI. Adjournment
n.
Date
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